A massive stone gate appeared in front of Zhang Yuan.

This stone gate was located at the end of the valley, like a portal to another world.

Its height exceeded thirty zhang, with half of the door panel seemingly shattered by something, leaving behind a ground full of rubble.

The round arch lintel and the pillars on either side bore the marks of countless years of weathering, exuding an ancient and vast aura, making all the disciples and martial artists of Upper Scenic Celestial feel dwarfed in its presence.

Meanwhile, clouds and mist swirled around the stone gate, obscuring the view inside.

"This is the gateway of the Eight Gates and Eight Extremes Profound Celestial Array."

Su Jingyao softly said, "Inside is the Cyan Profound Secret Realm!"

Zhang Yuan nodded silently.

Led by an Elder from Upper Scenic Celestial, all the disciples and guardians participating in this Nine Peaks Grand Competition entered through the opened stone gate in single file.

Even the most carefree individuals became cautious and jittery upon reaching this place, not daring to step over the line.

Zhang Yuan, upon stepping inside the stone gate, felt as if he had pushed through an invisible barrier.

His steps became suddenly sluggish and heavy.

In the next instant, the identity token he carried flashed, and the resistance from the surrounding space vanished into thin air!

Zhang Yuan’s footsteps became light once again.

But his mind was extremely shocked.

At that moment, Zhang Yuan vaguely sensed the existence of the Eight Gates and Eight Extremes Profound Celestial Array.

This feeling was incredibly mysterious, indescribable in words, yet it almost led his mind astray on the spot.

It was like a person’s first time gazing at the boundless starry sky, realizing oneself as no more than a speck of dust, devoid of any thought of resistance, with a desire to prostrate on the ground.

Fortunately, this feeling lasted only for a moment, otherwise, the pressure would have been overwhelming.

However, the shock in his heart lingered for a long time.

Zhang Yuan realized that his understanding of this world was very shallow.

So shallow it was embarrassing!

Zhang Yuan no longer felt any ease, constantly reminding himself to be cautious and not reckless.

The Cyan Profound Secret Realm was definitely no paradise, nor an amusement park!

And after passing through the stone gate and walking several hundred steps forward, the surrounding mist gradually dispersed.

A verdant world unfolded before everyone’s eyes.

The first impression of the Cyan Profound Secret Realm on Zhang Yuan was like facing a world carved from jadeite.

Green grass flourished, ancient trees towered, and all that the eye could see was lush greenery, even the stones on the ground were covered with emerald moss.

Green to the point of vivid brilliance! 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"In seven days, the array gate will close."

The Elder of Upper Scenic Celestial said solemnly, "Do not delay the timing!"

The Eight Great Secret Realms covered by the Eight Gates and Eight Extremes Profound Celestial Array were not open at all times.

The opening and closing times of each secret realm were fixed.

The Cyan Profound Secret Realm opened once a year, for only seven days each time, and if one missed the return time, they would be trapped inside, having to wait another year for a chance to come out.

But the secret realm was not as safe as Mo Yuan.

Without the ability to contact and receive support from the outside, no one could safely last a year inside!

So the disciples participating in this Nine Peaks Grand Competition not only had to capture enough task items but also ensure they could return to the array gate in time.

Once trapped inside, they could only leave it to fate!

"Go ahead!"

Hundreds of Upper Scenic Celestial disciples and guardians quickly dispersed, like raindrops falling into a river, disappearing into the vast forest in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Yuan asked, "Where are we going now?"

He knew nothing about the situation in the Cyan Profound Secret Realm and, as a supporting role, naturally followed Su Jingyao’s lead.

Su Jingyao took out a Wind Copper Compass from her satchel: "Let me see."

The disciple from Mingxiu Peak, holding the compass and stepping the Eight Trigrams Step, walked in a circle before pointing to the right: "Let’s go this way!"

Following the compass’s guidance, the two of them trekked through the dense forest.

Zhang Yuan found an opportunity to quietly release the Red-eyed Crow.

To his surprise, once the Red-eyed Crow flew above the dense forest, its sight was obstructed, and even with special vision activated, it couldn’t see the scene below clearly.

A faint mist permeated the forest, unnoticed when within, but perceptible from a different angle.

This was the first time Zhang Yuan encountered such a situation.

After several unsuccessful attempts, he could only retract the Red-eyed Crow to the Divine Nest.

Zhang Yuan guessed that this was most likely due to the power of the array.

No wonder Upper Scenic Celestial had studied for hundreds of years, yet only uncovered a small part of the secrets of the Eight Gates and Eight Extremes Profound Celestial Array.

The mysterious and profound ancient array was truly beyond the imagination of mortals.

What formidable beings were those who set it up back then!

Perhaps only the legendary Immortals possessed such capabilities.

Guarding Su Jingyao, Zhang Yuan continued to delve into the secret realm with the Mingxiu Peak disciple, his mind filled with various thoughts.

Meanwhile, Su Jingyao kept observing the compass, occasionally adjusting their direction.

The endless vegetation around made Zhang Yuan feel like he was entering a massive green maze.

He felt like he was going in circles.

He couldn’t help but ask, "Senior Sister Su, where exactly are we going?"

All this way, Zhang Yuan had not seen any strange monsters, not even a mouse.

The most encountered were some insects startled from the grass.

It wasn’t that Zhang Yuan was impatient, but such aimless exploration made one feel very uneasy.

Su Jingyao explained, "I’m searching for a deserted village."

Within the Eight Great Secret Realms of the Eight Gates and Eight Extremes Profound Celestial Array, the areas were vast, and peculiarly, the terrain, landscapes, and myriad beings inside the secret realms evolved with new changes each year.

This led to no available maps as a basis for exploration, with each visit requiring new paths to be found.

Su Jingyao was looking for the location of a deserted village.

Within the Eight Great Secret Realms, numerous deserted villages, even cities, were scattered about.

The former was called a deserted village, the latter a lost city.

But due to changes in the secret realm, such means could only determine the location of a deserted village by using divination and compass positioning.

And the interference of the array occasionally made such methods fail.

Requiring repeated re-locking.

"Only by finding the deserted village..."

Su Jingyao said, "Can we find the strange monsters and hunt the congealed fiends!"

So that’s how it was!

Zhang Yuan finally understood why the other party made it so complicated.

The complexity of the conditions within the secret realm was evidently far beyond his expectations.

Zhang Yuan calmed himself and continued following Su Jingyao.

Until night gradually fell, and a village hidden deep within the trees appeared ahead of them!